Post by PerhapsXarb on Dec 9, 2023 10:16:27 GMT
Andrew Wells VanWyngarden (1 February 1983 — present)
Associated Acts: MGMT (2002 — present), Accidental Mersh & Glitter Penis (a long time ago…)
Voice Type: Tenor in the 4th Dimension
Vocal Range: D2 - A5
{Vocal Summary}
Ah, MGMT, the neo-psychedelic duo who duped the world into charting a few pop singles and have proceeded to give absolutely no f*cks about commercial approval. As the lead singer, lyricist, and majority-of-instruments-ist, Andrew VanWyngarden is certainly the more publicly visible member of the group (a partnership with keyboardist/backing vocalist/occasional guitarist Ben Goldwasser). Despite their success, though, relatively little has been written about his singing voice. One reason may be that, with the sheer amount of reverb, overdubs, and other effects they plaster on their songs, as well as shifts in technique over time, Andrew’s voice can end up sounding like 2 or 3 different singers at once depending on the song and album.
In the early years of MGMT, Andrew favored alternating between a soft and heady mixed-to-falsetto style (i.e. "The Youth") and upper-4th to lower-5th octave belting— the latter is easily the most distinctive facet of his voice, described on TRP2 by erstwhile notewatcher The Great Heroins as sounding like "a tripped out Mick Jagger fused with a peregrine falcon" (I would add Jack White and Billy Corgan as other singers in this vein). Thin, shaky, and somewhat androgynous, to the point that some have incorrectly referred to this singing as "falsetto", his live performances in this upper register used to be rather inconsistent in quality, and are a likely factor in MGMT’s unfortunate reputation as a mediocre live act. Regardless, the raw intensity and distinctiveness of his studio vocals on their first two albums are impressive notwithstanding their lack of technicality. Good examples of this style can be found on the video/single mix of "Electric Feel" (the album version drowns it out with falsetto overdubs), "Weekend Wars", and the latter halves of "Someone’s Missing" and "Flash Delirium".
However, by the time their self-titled album came around in 2013, it was clear Andrew was having increasing difficulty delivering consistent live performances in his upper register. On the ensuing album and tour, it had all but disappeared in favor of his softer, mixed approach, as well as an increasing use of something he had previously shied away from: his lower range. Having rarely dipped into the 2nd octave beforehand, he began delivering resonant (if a bit fry-heavy) performances in songs like "Alien Days", which continued to a greater extent on 2018’s Little Dark Age and beyond, with confident E♭2s on "James" and scraping the bottom of the 2nd octave on his oh-so-ironic solo cover of "Dance Monkey".
Coming after 7 years of reflection, 2024’s Loss of Life finds Andrew at his most comfortable vocally, sticking mostly with a natural timbre rather than the faux-baritone employed at times on their previous two albums. While the album’s soft and mellow mood results in his staying mostly in his mid-to-lower range (at times crooner-esque), a full-album performance of Oracular Spectacular at 2023’s Just Like Heaven festival found his vocals at close to their strongest ever, with his upper range sounding especially fleshed-out and strong in comparison to his early days.
Written by PerhapsXarb .
Ah, MGMT, the neo-psychedelic duo who duped the world into charting a few pop singles and have proceeded to give absolutely no f*cks about commercial approval. As the lead singer, lyricist, and majority-of-instruments-ist, Andrew VanWyngarden is certainly the more publicly visible member of the group (a partnership with keyboardist/backing vocalist/occasional guitarist Ben Goldwasser). Despite their success, though, relatively little has been written about his singing voice. One reason may be that, with the sheer amount of reverb, overdubs, and other effects they plaster on their songs, as well as shifts in technique over time, Andrew’s voice can end up sounding like 2 or 3 different singers at once depending on the song and album.
In the early years of MGMT, Andrew favored alternating between a soft and heady mixed-to-falsetto style (i.e. "The Youth") and upper-4th to lower-5th octave belting— the latter is easily the most distinctive facet of his voice, described on TRP2 by erstwhile notewatcher The Great Heroins as sounding like "a tripped out Mick Jagger fused with a peregrine falcon" (I would add Jack White and Billy Corgan as other singers in this vein). Thin, shaky, and somewhat androgynous, to the point that some have incorrectly referred to this singing as "falsetto", his live performances in this upper register used to be rather inconsistent in quality, and are a likely factor in MGMT’s unfortunate reputation as a mediocre live act. Regardless, the raw intensity and distinctiveness of his studio vocals on their first two albums are impressive notwithstanding their lack of technicality. Good examples of this style can be found on the video/single mix of "Electric Feel" (the album version drowns it out with falsetto overdubs), "Weekend Wars", and the latter halves of "Someone’s Missing" and "Flash Delirium".
However, by the time their self-titled album came around in 2013, it was clear Andrew was having increasing difficulty delivering consistent live performances in his upper register. On the ensuing album and tour, it had all but disappeared in favor of his softer, mixed approach, as well as an increasing use of something he had previously shied away from: his lower range. Having rarely dipped into the 2nd octave beforehand, he began delivering resonant (if a bit fry-heavy) performances in songs like "Alien Days", which continued to a greater extent on 2018’s Little Dark Age and beyond, with confident E♭2s on "James" and scraping the bottom of the 2nd octave on his oh-so-ironic solo cover of "Dance Monkey".
Coming after 7 years of reflection, 2024’s Loss of Life finds Andrew at his most comfortable vocally, sticking mostly with a natural timbre rather than the faux-baritone employed at times on their previous two albums. While the album’s soft and mellow mood results in his staying mostly in his mid-to-lower range (at times crooner-esque), a full-album performance of Oracular Spectacular at 2023’s Just Like Heaven festival found his vocals at close to their strongest ever, with his upper range sounding especially fleshed-out and strong in comparison to his early days.
Written by PerhapsXarb .
Significant High Notes:
A5 ("Future Reflections")
G5 ("Flash Delirium", "Las Vegas", "Metanoia" live at the Fonda 2008, "The Miracle of Birth")
F♯5 ("Destrokk", "The Handshake")
F5 ("Hot Love Drama", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", "Metanoia")
E5 ("Boogie Down", "Easy Bake", "Master Song", "Metanoia", "Weekend Wars")
E♭5 ("Closer" live at Wesleyan University, 2003, "Electric Feel", "Hand It Over", "Revolution")
D5 ("Bubblegum Dog", "Honey Bunny", "I Wish I Was Joking", "Plenty of Girls in the Sea", "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" live in Columbus, 2003, "Tony Danza", "We Care" Climbing to New Lows version, "The Youth")
C♯5 ("Art Is Everywhere", "Electric Feel" ’06 Mix, "Hand It Over", "Indie Rokkers", "Kids", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", "Metanoia")
C5 ("4th Dimensional Transition" live Just Like Heaven 2023, "Boogie Down" studio/live, "Closer" live at Wesleyan University, 2003, "Destrokk" studio/live, "Electric Feel", "Everything's Happenin' So Fast", "Flash Delirium", "Love Always Remains", "Mindless Child of Motherhood" live in Seattle, 2008, "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)")
B4 ("4th Dimensional Transition", "Art Is Everywhere", "Bubblegum Dog", "Congratulations", "Easy Bake", "Hand It Over", "The Handshake", "I Love You Too, Death", "The Kids Quartet", "Live Forever" live V Festival 2009, "Loss of Life", "Metanoia", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", "Pieces of What", "Plenty of Girls in the Sea", "Siberian Breaks", "So Many Days", "Voices Carry" live Bonnaroo 2009)
B♭4 ("Days That Got Away", "Electric Feel" & "Electric Feel" Electro Demo, "James", "Siberian Breaks", "Weekend Wars")
A4 ("4th Dimensional Transition", "Angie" live at Osheaga Festival 2012, "Astro-Mancy", "Dancing in Ashes", "A Day in the Life of a Tree" live solo at City Winery, 2011, "Everything's Happenin' So Fast", "Flash Delirium", "Future Reflections", "Goodbye Horses" live Beale Street Music Festival, 2017, "Hippycrit", "Honey Bunny", "Hot Love Drama", "I Found a Whistle", "Loss of Life", "Love Always Remains", "Master Song", "Metanoia", "Mindless Child of Motherhood" live in Seattle, 2008, "Only a Shadow", "An Orphan of Fortune", "Pieces of What", "Pyro Knees", "San Diego Psychocity", "Siberian Breaks", "Someone’s Missing", "We Care" Climbing to New Lows version, "We Don't Care", "Weekend Wars", "Your Life Is a Lie", "The Youth")
G♯4 ("Hand It Over", "I Happen to Love You" live at Glasslands, 2009, "Indie Rokkers", "Goodbye Darling", "Metanoia", "The Microphone Five", "Milk & Rice", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", "One Thing Left to Try" live in Oakland, 2019, "Someone’s Missing", "Song for Dan Treacy", "The Youth")
G4 ("Alien Days", "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything", "Angel Food", "Ashes and Diamonds" live in Berlin, 2018, "Birthdays in the Graveyard", "Boogie Down", "Bubblegum Dog", "Closer" live at Wesleyan University, 2003, "Congratulations", "Dishes Are Dirtier in the Suburbs", "Grutu (Just Becuz)", "The Handshake", "Honey Bunny", "I'm Your Mom", "Invocation", "Live Forever" live V Festival 2009, "Lizer", "Loss of Life", "Love Is the Sun" live solo at City Winery, 2015, "Lucifer Sam" live on Jimmy Fallon, 2011, "Money to Burn", "The Microphone Five", "Nature Boy", "The NeverEnding Story" live Austin City Limits 2018, "Pyro Knees", "Sausage Pants", "TSLAMP", "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" live in Columbus, 2003, "Turnpike Honey", "We Care", "We Don't Care", "Weekend Wars")
F♯4 ("Angel Food", "Brian Eno", "Calgary" live in Calgary, 2013, "Dancing in Babylon", "A Day in the Life of a Tree" live solo at City Winery, 2011, "Destrokk", "Goodbye Darling", "Hippycrit", "It’s Working", "Joan", "Kid Born in Space", "Little Dark Age", "Mirror Israeli", "Mother Nature", "Nothing Changes", "Old Man River" backstage with The Flaming Lips, "One Note", "One Thing Left to Try" live in Oakland, 2019, "Only a Shadow", "People in the Streets", "Song for Dan Treacy", "Time to Pretend", "Trailmixx")
F4 ("Alien Days", "Bad Boys", "The Divine Chord", "Flash Delirium", "Goodbye Horses" live Beale Street Music Festival, 2017, "Guvnah", "Hot Love Drama", "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass" live Quilmes Rock 2012, "I Just Knew", "Invocation", "It’s Working", "Kids" early versions, "Lil Tisha", "Little Dark Age", "Only a Shadow", "The NeverEnding Story" live Austin City Limits 2018, "Nothing Changes", "Pyro Knees", "Revolution", "Siberian Breaks", "When You Die", "When You’re Small" live in Paris, 2018)
Significant Low Notes:
E3 ("4th Dimensional Transition", "Boogie Down", "Disco-Lid", "I Happen to Love You" live at Glasslands, 2009, "I'll Try Sir", "I’m Alive", "Kids", "Lucifer Sam" live on Jimmy Fallon, 2011, "Mirror Israeli", "Money to Burn", "Mystery Disease", "Old Man River" backstage with The Flaming Lips, "Phradie's Song", "Tell It to Me Like It Is", "The NeverEnding Story" live Austin City Limits 2018)
E♭3 ("Angel Food", "Bad Thoughts", "Closer" live at Wesleyan University, 2003, "Mother Nature", "One Thing Left to Try", "Pyro Knees", "She Works Out Too Much")
D3 ("Alien Days", "Bubblegum Dog", "Dancing in Ashes", "A Day in the Life of a Tree" live solo at City Winery, 2011, "Dishes Are Dirtier in the Suburbs", "Dust in My Ears", "Flash Delirium", "A Good Sadness", "Grutu (Just Becuz)", "I Wish I Was Joking", "I’m Alive", "Invocation", "Joan", "Loss of Life", "Love Is the Sun" live solo at City Winery, 2015, "Lonely Time" live solo at City Winery, 2015, "Me and Michael", "Nature Boy", "Nothing to Declare", "An Orphan of Fortune", "Phradie's Song", "Plenty of Girls in the Sea", "San Diego Psychocity", "Siberian Breaks", Song for Dan Treacy", "Sparkle John", "Trailmixx", "We Care", "Your Life Is a Lie")
C♯3 ("Astro-Mancy", "Cool Song No. 2", "Dancing in Babylon", "Disco-Lid", "I Just Knew", "Metanoia", "Mother Nature", "Nothing Changes", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", "People in the Streets", "Siberian Breaks", "Who’s Counting")
C3 ("4th Dimensional Transition", "Alien Days", "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything", "Angel Food", "Bad Thoughts", "Boogie Down", "Chinese Food", "Dancing in Ashes", "Disco-Lid", "Dishes Are Dirtier in the Suburbs", "Easy Bake", "Electric Feel", "Flash Delirium", "Guvnah", "Introspection", "Master Song", "Milk & Rice", "Nothing to Declare", "Plenty of Girls in the Sea", "Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)", "Runaway Train" live at Webster Hall, 2019, "Turnpike Honey")
B2 ("4th Dimensional Transition", "Calgary" live in Calgary, 2013, "Congratulations", "Crumz in My Lap", "Don’t Bring Harry" live at Un Altro Festival 2014, "Flash Delirium", "Hand It Over", "I Love You Too, Death", "I Wish I Was Joking", "Indie Rokkers", "In the Afternoon", "It’s Working", "Metanoia", "Mirror Israeli", "Song about Ben" interview improvisation, "Song for Dan Treacy", "Who’s Counting")
B♭2 ("Birthdays in the Graveyard", "Bubblegum Dog", "Nothing to Declare", "People in the Streets", "Pyro Knees", "Sausage Pants")
A2 ("Astro-Mancy", "Broken Arrows" live Outside Lands 2011, "Calgary" live in Calgary, 2013, "Cool Song No. 2", "Congratulations", "Dancin' Monkeys", "A Day in the Life of a Tree" live solo at City Winery, 2011, "Electric Feel" 2006 Demo, "Guvnah", "I Wish I Was Joking", "I'm Your Mom", "Indie Rokkers", "Me and Michael", "Metanoia", "Milk & Rice", "Roger" live on KCRW, 2008, "Sausage Pants", "Siberian Breaks", "Turnpike Honey")
G♯2 ("James", "Nothing Changes", "One Thing Left to Try", "People in the Streets", "Revolution")
G2 ("4th Dimensional Transition" live Just Like Heaven 2023, "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything", "Angel Food", "Birthdays in the Graveyard", "Bubblegum Dog", "Dance Monkey", "I Love You Too, Death", "TSLAMP", "Your Life Is a Lie")
F♯2 ("Dancin' Monkeys", "Don’t Bring Harry" live at Un Altro Festival 2014, "In the Afternoon", "James", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters")
F2 ("Alien Days", "Dance Monkey", "Future Reflections", "In the Afternoon", "San Diego Psychocity")
E2 ("Dance Monkey")
E♭2 ("James")
D2 ("Dance Monkey")
{Questionable Notes}
A5 ("Hell No" [2], [5]
G5 ("Brian Eno" [2], [5])
F♯5 ("Electric Feel" [2], "So Many Days" [2])
E♭5 ("Lizer" [2])
D5 ("4th Dimensional Transition" [2], "Time to Pretend" [2])
C♯5 ("Art Is Everywhere" [2])
C5 ("Grutu (Just Becuz)" [2], "The Microphone Five" [2], "We Care" [2])
B4 ("Hot Love Drama" [2])
B♭4 ("Angel Food" [1], "Lil Tisha" [2], "One Thing Left to Try" [4] (I have read people who claim intimate knowledge say that the lead vocal was pitch-shifted; I’m not 100% convinced, but they do perform it a full-step down live))
A4 ("Brian Eno" [1], "Kids" [2], "Time to Pretend" [2])
G♯4 ("Art Is Everywhere" [2])
G4 ("Guvnah" [2], "One Note" [2])
F♯4 ("Disco-Lid" [2], "When You Die" [2])
E♭3 ("The Microphone Five" [2])
B2 ("Brian Eno" [1], "I’m Alive" [1])
G2 ("Honey Bunny" [2], "Master Song" [1])
F2 ("Bubblegum Dog" [2])
E2 ("Money To Burn" [4])
E♭2 ("Angel Food" [2])
D2 ("Introspection" [2] (no clue if this is Andrew or Ben but neither sings it live and it sounds less crackly than anything I’ve heard Andrew sing below F2))
C2 ("Dance Monkey" [5] (I’ll add this if people think it’s good enough), "Introspection" [2], [4] (from same line as above but might be an illusion))
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question (mostly background lines that might be Ben Goldwasser because he sings them live, or they just don’t have enough of an Andrew vibe to them idk, but if Ben doesn’t sing them live I’m mostly assuming they’re Andrew).
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
A5 ("Hell No" [2], [5]
G5 ("Brian Eno" [2], [5])
F♯5 ("Electric Feel" [2], "So Many Days" [2])
E♭5 ("Lizer" [2])
D5 ("4th Dimensional Transition" [2], "Time to Pretend" [2])
C♯5 ("Art Is Everywhere" [2])
C5 ("Grutu (Just Becuz)" [2], "The Microphone Five" [2], "We Care" [2])
B4 ("Hot Love Drama" [2])
B♭4 ("Angel Food" [1], "Lil Tisha" [2], "One Thing Left to Try" [4] (I have read people who claim intimate knowledge say that the lead vocal was pitch-shifted; I’m not 100% convinced, but they do perform it a full-step down live))
A4 ("Brian Eno" [1], "Kids" [2], "Time to Pretend" [2])
G♯4 ("Art Is Everywhere" [2])
G4 ("Guvnah" [2], "One Note" [2])
F♯4 ("Disco-Lid" [2], "When You Die" [2])
E♭3 ("The Microphone Five" [2])
B2 ("Brian Eno" [1], "I’m Alive" [1])
G2 ("Honey Bunny" [2], "Master Song" [1])
F2 ("Bubblegum Dog" [2])
E2 ("Money To Burn" [4])
E♭2 ("Angel Food" [2])
D2 ("Introspection" [2] (no clue if this is Andrew or Ben but neither sings it live and it sounds less crackly than anything I’ve heard Andrew sing below F2))
C2 ("Dance Monkey" [5] (I’ll add this if people think it’s good enough), "Introspection" [2], [4] (from same line as above but might be an illusion))
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question (mostly background lines that might be Ben Goldwasser because he sings them live, or they just don’t have enough of an Andrew vibe to them idk, but if Ben doesn’t sing them live I’m mostly assuming they’re Andrew).
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
.......................................................
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.
{Album Ranges}
MGMT:
We (Don’t) Care EP (2004): D3 - C5
Climbing to New Lows Demo (2005): D3 - F5
Time to Pretend EP (2005): A2 - C5 - F♯5
Oracular Spectacular (2007): F2 - E♭5 - A5
Congratulations (2010): A2 - C5 - G5
MGMT (2013): F2 - B4 - D5
Little Dark Age (2018): E♭2 - B4 - E♭5
11•11•11 (2022; recorded 2011): B2 - G4
Loss of Life (2024): G2 - B4 - D5
Glitter Penis:
River Offices (c. 1998-99): G2 - G♯2 - G♯4 - E♭5
The Greatest Hits (c. 1998-99): F♯2 - G5
Accidental Mersh:
Accidental Mersh (1999): A2 - A4
Mirror Israeli (2000): F2 - A4
MGMT:
We (Don’t) Care EP (2004): D3 - C5
Climbing to New Lows Demo (2005): D3 - F5
Time to Pretend EP (2005): A2 - C5 - F♯5
Oracular Spectacular (2007): F2 - E♭5 - A5
Congratulations (2010): A2 - C5 - G5
MGMT (2013): F2 - B4 - D5
Little Dark Age (2018): E♭2 - B4 - E♭5
11•11•11 (2022; recorded 2011): B2 - G4
Loss of Life (2024): G2 - B4 - D5
Glitter Penis:
River Offices (c. 1998-99): G2 - G♯2 - G♯4 - E♭5
The Greatest Hits (c. 1998-99): F♯2 - G5
Accidental Mersh:
Accidental Mersh (1999): A2 - A4
Mirror Israeli (2000): F2 - A4
Top Vocal Performances:
1. "Electric Feel"
2. "Nature Boy"
3. "In The Afternoon"
4. "Flash Delirium"
5. "Little Dark Age"
6. "Congratulations"
7. "Weekend Wars"
8. "Siberian Breaks"
9. "Metanoia"
10. "Alien Days"
11. "It’s Working"
12. "Mother Nature"
13. "I Just Knew"
14. "James"
15. "Love Always Remains"
16. "Someone's Missing"
17. "Indie Rokkers"
18. "Dance Monkey"
19. "The Handshake"
20. "Brian Eno"
Thanks and credit to The Great Heroins for making Andrew’s TRP2/3 thread, which helped guide my research and his voice description.
